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Legendary batsman Everton Weekes, the final of the famed West Indies ‘Three Ws’, died on Wednesday on the age of 95 and was hailed as “a founding father” of the game within the Caribbean. “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of an icon. A legend, our hero, Sir Everton Weekes,” tweeted Cricket West Indies. “Our condolences go out to his family, friends and many fans around the world. May he rest in peace.” Barbadian Weekes was a part of a feared post-World War II West Indies crew which additionally featured Clyde Walcott and Frank Worrell. Walcott died in 2006 whereas Worrell handed away in 1967. All three had been born inside a mile and a half of one another over an 18-month interval.
Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the lack of an icon. A legend, our hero, Sir Everton Weekes. Our condolences exit to his household, associates and lots of followers around the globe. May he relaxation in peace. pic.twitter.com/RnwoJkhjPd
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 1, 2020
Today, the nationwide stadium in Bridgetown is known as the Three Ws Oval.
Weekes performed 48 Tests between 1948 and 1958, scoring 4,455 runs at a mean of 58.61. His highest Test rating was 207.
“A most amazing pioneer in West Indies cricket,” stated CWI president Ricky Skerritt.
“A tremendous gentleman and a wonderful human being. He was literally a founding father of our cricket. May he rest in peace.”
Skerritt hailed Weekes’ “amazing legacy as both a great cricketer and a great human being. He was the last of the famous three Ws to pass to the great beyond.
“I had a private relationship with Sir Everton, I had the chance final yr to go to go to him at his dwelling in Barbados when he had come out of hospital after he had had a really severe sickness.
“We had a chance to chat about his career. He was a most amazing man and just one of the most humble and decent and wonderful people you could ever meet.”
Weekes, who suffered a coronary heart assault in 2019, made 15 centuries together with 5 in a unprecedented sequence that is still a document at the moment.
Former West Indies captain Jeffrey Stollmeyer described Weekes as “a five foot six inch bundle of muscle”.
Weekes made his mark within the fourth Test towards England in Jamaica in 1948 the place he crashed an assault that included Gubby Allen, Maurice Tremlett and Jim Laker for 141, resulting in a 10-wicket win.
When the West Indies went on to tour India later within the yr, he produced successive innings of 128 in Delhi, 194 in Bombay and 162 and 101 in Calcutta.
He should have had a sixth consecutive hundred however was run out for 90 in Madras, a call that Walcott described as “rather doubtful”.
‘Truly nice human being’
In 1950 he performed a key supporting position to spinners Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine in West Indies’ 3-1 collection win in England.
He made three half-centuries after which 129 at Trent Bridge.
Weekes returned to England in 1957 which produced one actually memorable innings.
It got here within the second innings at Lord’s with the West Indies, nonetheless trailing England by 217, on 80-Four and dealing with a heavy defeat.
The England assault of Fred Trueman, Brian Statham and Trevor Bailey exploited the ridge on the Nursery End to make the ball rear spitefully.
Weekes joined Garry Sobers and set about including 100 in 95 minutes.
Weekes took a blow to the hand which cracked a finger however in a three-hour keep on the crease, continued to carve the bowlers round Lord’s, hitting 16 boundaries earlier than being dismissed for 90.
It was that spirit and trendy devastation which followers remembered on Wednesday.
West Indies Players’ Association tweeted: “We salute a great West Indies icon; Sir Everton made an invaluable contribution to the sport, his country and the region.
“We have been blessed to have him amongst us, might his soul relaxation in peace.”
“Everyone at MCC and Lord’s are saddened on the information of Sir Everton Weekes’ passing,” said the MCC.
“He will ceaselessly be remembered as one in every of West Indies cricket’s most interesting cricketers.”
Promoted
Retired West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop added: “I had the good privilege of spending time within the firm of Sir Everton on a number of events over the previous twenty years.
“Never once did I leave his presence without feeling a sense of warmth, cheerfulness & having learnt something rich & endearing each time. A truly great human being.”
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